By By Marty Stamper/Staff Writer
Jan. 6, 2002
FOREST The Forest Bearcats breezed through the Central Mississippi Classic with the closest challenge in their three games being a 21-point win over Choctaw Central in Saturday's championship game.
The Bearcats got 35 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks, and five assists from 6-foot-8 sophomore post Charles Rhodes to beat the Warriors 80-59.
The Bearcats also beat Lake by 23 points and Union by 37 to advance to the championship.
Choctaw Central battled the much taller Bearcats on even terms for a quarter as the first eight minutes produced a 12-12 stalemate.
Forest opened the second period with an 8-0 run capped by a dunk from sophomore guard Pierre Barlow.
Rhodes added a rebound dunk at the 5:30 mark to put the Bearcats up 24-14.
A 3-pointer by James Dixon kept the Cats up by 10 at 27-17 and Forest took a 39-23 lead into halftime.
Dixon finished with four 3-pointers, three of which came in the second quarter.
Forest used a 21-20 advantage in the third quarter to carry a 60-43 lead into the final period.
The Bearcats, 16-2, got 16 points from Barlow, 12 from Dixon, and six from Justin Lyles.
Choctaw Central, 7-8, got 16 points from Tyler Williamson, 13 from Sean Ashapanek, eight each from Anslem Henry and Andrew McMillian, and six from Braden Sam.
Newton 69
Union 51
Newton outscored Union 39-25 during the middle periods in taking the boys' third-place game.
Union led 17-16 after one quarter only to have Newton take a 38-30 lead into halftime after outscoring the Jackets 22-13 in the second.
The Tigers had a 55-42 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
Bobby Lindsey led Newton, 9-7, with a game-high 35 points.
The Tigers also got 19 points from David Edwards and seven from Ladarrian Blaylock.
Union, 8-9, got 18 points from Douglas Wansley, nine apiece from Quincy Larkin and Derrick Harris, and eight from Lando Blalock.